Red09XLT

Does anyone else with an '09 F150 have the plastic on the factory running boards fading in spots?? My passenger running board has areas of whitish gray fading going on; the worst being right near the center of the board and in between the "treads" on the rest of the board. It's almost like it got sprayed with a chemical, but none of the other plastic on the passenger side is having problems. The plastic guards at the bottom edges of the rocker panels and the end caps on the board in question are black as can be and seem to be made of similar material. Ditto for the driver's side. My truck is only 10 months old and just logged 8,000 miles.

So has this happened with anyone else? Do you think Ford will replace it under warranty as it seems to be a defect?

Thanks for your help.

big_ole_truck

I have the 5" chrome step bars on my truck. The plastic inserts are still black on mine. But then again, the truck is a garage queen.

steenbag

It's probably the plastic oxidizing. It happens to all cars, its just more noticable on the black plastic. My few week old '10 has it on the pickup bed rails. Anywho, the problem seems to go away if I wash her. Or there's always this: http://www.ehow.com/how_5143198_clea...n-plastic.html (I haven't tried it)

Red09XLT

I tried washing it and it made no difference. Even put mother's back to black and no change. My truck is garage kept as well.

Rayman21186

Ford should replace it. They replaced the cowl on my focus for the same issue.

Red09XLT

I stopped by a Ford dealer near my work (not the one I purchased the truck from) on my lunch break and they said Ford wouldn't touch it because it would be considered "environmental" damage. They gave me a number to call Ford customer service directly to file a claim/concern. 10 minutes with the rep (very nice people, btw) and they said to go to the dealer of my choice for a second opinion (this time the one I originally purchased the truck from) and have them inspect it to determine the cause and if they think it is defect Ford will replace it at no cost.

Called my dealer (long-time family friend - makes a difference) right after and told him my story, he went looking for the part numbers. Got a call back with the news that my new running boards are there way. I asked if he need to inspect the truck first, he said "no just stop by when we get the parts and will swap them out."

tazmanty

The running board only where I step to enter my 09 Platinum is peeling and the dealer's answer was for me to spray bed liner (Rhino) on it. Okay, but why is Ford using such a poor product that it peels under normal use after less than a year, and why can't they fix it. Or better yet why didn't they use bed liner on the boards? I am currently going back and forth with Ford. But it makes me wonder what other inferior material was used in making my truck.

GatorMedic

It's normal for any vehicle with black exposed plastic like that. It'll happen to your bed rails eventually too. My step-dad showed me how to remove it a couple months back on his Aspen, but I forgot exactly what he used. I'll ask him next time I talk to him, but I believe he used ArmorAll wipes and the spray (spray on, let sit for a few minutes, clean it up with the wipe), either that or glass wipe stuff.

F-amous150

peanut butter does the trick but hell if you can get it replaced at no cost, THAT does the trick.

2manytoyz

Typical issue here in FL. Sun fades all black plastic. ArmorAll works pretty good. I spray it on, and spray some on a rag. Scrub it into the plastic, re-apply if necessary (plastic still a little gray). Wipe the residual off with a cloth.

Be warned, it'll make those plastic step plates as slick as snot for a while! But they'll sure look pretty from the ground level when you fall on yer...